Urology

Boston Children's Hospital is home to the largest pediatric urology department in the world. Each year, nearly 19,000 children from across the United States and beyond visit our specialists to seek treatment for rare and complex bladder, kidney, and urinary tract problems.

Our department - ranked number one in the nation in pediatric urology by U.S. News & World Report - features 11 specialized clinical programs dedicated to congenital defects, fertility preservation, and more. Our internationally recognized team of physicians and surgeons offers state-of-the-art care and unmatched surgical expertise, performing more than 3,000 procedures annually. In particular, we're a leading destination for minimally invasive and robotic surgery procedures such as pylepolasty, ureteral implant, and mitrofanoff.

Just as important, we offer compassionate and comprehensive support to your child and family at every step of the way. Our entire team -- doctors, nurses, and support staff -- works together to coordinate your child's care, make your family feel comfortable, and ensure that your experience is as smooth and stress-free as possible. We're dedicated to your family's overall well-being.

Conditions We Treat

Our department treats the full range of urological problems in children, including:

Our Family-Centered Approach

We provide innovative, family-centered care delivered by a collaborative team of experts. Our department offers not only advanced treatments and surgical procedures, but also a friendly and highly trained team of nurses and social workers that supports your child -- and family -- through tests and procedures.

Patient and family satisfaction is one of our top priorities. We've put in place a number of measures to ensure an exceptional patient experience. These include gathering real-time feedback from you and your child during every stage of care, and providing a suite of tools for educating your family about your child's condition.

We know the family is the most important source of emotional support for children, and that's why we view family members as a vital component of each child's healthcare team. Families are always welcome on the patient care unit and are encouraged to comfort and soothe their children. And when they're away from the units, family members may call at any time to speak with the child's nurse.

Research and Innovation

Our department, founded more than 30 years ago, was the first of its kind at a major children's hospital and has a long tradition of pioneering treatments and techniques in urology. Some of our notable advances include the first minimally invasive surgery using tissue engineering to correct vesicoureteral reflux, the first laparoscopic removal of a kidney in a child in the eastern United States, and the creation of the first bladder exstrophy support group and comprehensive care program.

Through research in areas including tissue engineering, proteins, and bladder function, we continue to refine our techniques and develop more effective therapies. In addition, our innovative health-services research has led directly to changes in care, such as our use of radiation. We now use the lowest and safest doses of radiation, reducing exposure during kidney stone surgery by up to 80 percent, for example.

Patient Success Stories

Solving a Newborn's Rare Bladder Problem

A boy is born in Greece with bladder exstrophy, a rare urological condition that affects roughly 1 in every 40,000 babies. Deeply concerned, his parents consult experts in their home country and opt to seek care at Boston Children's Hospital, which handles up to six such cases each year in its specialized bladder exstrophy program. Read more >>

Helping Hands Across Borders

When a small boy from the West Bank is diagnosed with a congenital condition that compromises the kidneys and urological system, a team of Israeli doctors and U.S. benefactors join together to secure him a kidney transplant. Read more >>